Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Kevin Brady, R-Texas, defended the GOP tax bill as providing "very strong tax relief" for the middle class — and dismissed criticism of the elimination of local and state deductions.

In an interview on "The Joe Pags Show" on Newsmax TV on Tuesday, the Texas Republican praised the bill for simplifying the tax code so "95 percent of Americans will be able to file using the simple post-card-style system and won't have to itemize to get their tax cuts."

In the end, he asserted, the House tax reform bill "results in very strong tax relief for the middle class" — and at the same time, will fuel business productivity.

"Profits don't drive paychecks, productivity does and in business investment," he said. "That's our problem, that's the missing ingredient.

"You know businesses have not been investing in local plans, equipment, software, technology that really drives workers' paychecks. They've been cutting expenses, they've been investing elsewhere."

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Brady said the tax reform is saying to businesses "invest now, invest here in America, and invest in the type of equipment and technology that allows your workers to be more productive."

"That's what creates paychecks and this is why this is so different than Obamanomics and all these other things where they just say 'Washington, spend more,'" Brady told host Joe Pagliarulo. "Here we're saying, 'Look, local businesses, we'll tax you less, invest more.' And that's a big difference."

Brady also defended the elimination of the state and local deductions as well — a move that will hit hard on blue states like New York, California, and New Jersey.

"For the first time Washington doesn't punish you or reward you based on where you live," he countered. "It's a big change, but it's a fairness issue. And in those high tax states, by the way, California and New York, they still see tax cuts because we're lowering those rates."

"The biggest problem here is those local mayors and governors are really pushing for themselves to be able to continue to increase local taxes," he continued. "That's the problem."

Dismissing criticism of the elimination of local and state deductions, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Kevin Brady, R-Texas, defended the GOP tax bill as providing "very strong tax relief" for the middle class.